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Age-related faecal calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK concentrations in healthy volunteers
Shilpa Joshi1, Stephen J Lewis, Siobhan Creanor
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK.
Insights
Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin levels vary significantly with age in healthy individuals, necessitating age-specific reference ranges for accurate gastrointestinal disease diagnosis. Tumour M2-PK levels did not show age-related changes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Faecal inflammatory markers like calprotectin and lactoferrin are valuable in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.
- Tumour M2-PK is a metabolomic marker used in assessing gastrointestinal conditions.
- Establishing appropriate reference ranges is crucial for accurate interpretation of these markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of age-related reference ranges for faecal calprotectin, lactoferrin, and tumour M2-PK.
- To determine if concentrations of these markers differ across various age groups in healthy subjects.
Main Methods:
- Collected faecal samples from 132 healthy individuals.
- Analyzed calprotectin, lactoferrin, and tumour M2-PK using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
- Compared marker concentrations across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Calprotectin concentrations differed significantly between age groups (2-9y, 10-59y, ≥60y).
- Lactoferrin concentrations were higher in children (2-9y) compared to older individuals (≥10y).
- Faecal tumour M2-PK showed no significant age-related variation in healthy subjects.
Conclusions:
- Age-specific reference ranges are essential for interpreting faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin levels.
- Children (2-9y) exhibit higher concentrations of both calprotectin and lactoferrin.
- Adults aged ≥60 years have higher calprotectin levels than the 10-59 year group, unlike lactoferrin.
Objective:
Measurement of the faecal markers calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis and management of a range of gastrointestinal disorders in both children and adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the requirement for age-related reference ranges.
Methods:
Faecal samples were obtained from 132 healthy subjects and analysis of calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK performed using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
In the healthy subjects median concentrations were as follows: for calprotectin - 2-9 y, 34 microg/g, 10-59 y, 22 microg/g and > or =60 y, 27 microg/g; for lactoferrin - 2-9 y, 2.2 microg/g, > or =10 y, 0.5 microg/g; and for tumour M2-PK all subjects <1 U/mL. Significant differences between age groups for different markers resulted in the following age-related reference ranges: calprotectin - 2-9 y, <166 microg/g, 10-59 y, <51 microg/g, > or =60 y, <112 microg/g; lactoferrin - 2-9 y, <29 microg/g, > or =10 y <4.6 microg/g.
Conclusion:
In healthy individuals, we found there to be variation in the faecal inflammatory markers calprotectin and lactoferrin with age. For both calprotectin and lactoferrin children aged 2-9 y had significantly higher concentrations than subjects aged >/=10 y. For calprotectin but not lactoferrin, adults > or =60 years had a higher concentration than those aged 10-59 y. There was no change with age in the metabolomic marker faecal tumour M2-PK in healthy subjects. The knowledge of age-related reference ranges in healthy subjects is important to fully interpret changes in gastrointestinal disease.
